Kole Tang

Care at a glance

Overview

A hardy, hard-working algae and detritus grazer that is one of the safer tangs for a reef, since its comb teeth are made for rasping film off surfaces rather than tearing at coral. There is only a minor risk it may pick at soft coral polyps if underfed, so keep it well supplied with algae or nori. It is peaceful toward unrelated fish but territorial toward other bristletooth tangs and fish of similar shape, so it is usually kept one to a tank. Being smaller than most tangs, it suits reef systems that cannot house a full sized Zebrasoma or hippo tang.

In the wild

Lives on rocky reef flats and lagoon slopes in the central Pacific, usually alone, working the rock and sand for the film it feeds on. It is constantly on the move over hard surfaces during the day and shelters in the reef at night. In the aquarium it wants plenty of mature live rock and open sand to browse, along with room to cruise the length of the tank.

Good to know

Ctenochaetus strigosus is a bristletooth surgeonfish, named for the many fine comb-like teeth in its mouth. Instead of biting off tough macroalgae like Zebrasoma tangs, it uses these flexible teeth to sweep up detritus, diatoms, and film algae from rock and sand, which makes it one of the most useful cleanup grazers in the hobby. It reaches about 18 cm and, like all surgeonfish, has a folding scalpel spine at the base of the tail. Juveniles are yellow and darken to a dusky body with fine blue-grey striping and a gold eye ring as adults.

Did you know

Its mouth holds well over a hundred tiny comb-shaped teeth, and rather than scraping algae like other tangs it vacuums up detritus and diatom film, so it doubles as a natural sand and rock cleaner.

Related species

• 

  Tomini Tang

  Ctenochaetus tominiensis

  6.3 in (16 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Chevron Tang

  Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

  11 in (28 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Scopas Tang

  Zebrasoma scopas

  7.9 in (20 cm)90 gal (340 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Yellow Tang

  Zebrasoma flavescens

  7.9 in (20 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Black Tang

  Zebrasoma rostratum

  8.3 in (21 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Powder Brown Tang

  Acanthurus japonicus

  8.3 in (21 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)